The man accused in a fatal crash that killed an Alexandria mother and son pleaded not guilty Friday in 9th Judicial District Court. 43 year old John Scott Jr is accused of driving a vehicle on March 30 that hit one driven by 27 year old Darlicia Smith. The crash happened on Broadway Avenue on an overpass spanning Interstate 49. Smith died at the scene, her 6 year-old son, died the next day. Scott pleaded not guilty to two counts of vehicular homicide, one count of first-degree vehicular negligent injury, reckless operation, driving under suspension/ revocation, running a red light and possession of marijuana. #

Unemployment for the month of July in Louisiana was 4.9 percent, continuing a promising string on unemployment numbers for the state. The national average currently sits at 3.9 percent. Louisiana Workforce Commissioner Ava Dejoie says the numbers are backed by continuing tech sector expansion in the state, along with the stabilization of oil industry jobs as work picks up in the gulf.

Senator John Kennedy says the 7-6 Bond Commission decision against allowing bids from banks who deny financing to certain gun manufacturers and sellers is a statement victory that will inspire similar efforts in other conservative states, and even Congress. Kennedy says the result has inspired gun rights leaders crafting their own plans for going after companies that push gun control. Combined, the two Banks hold 23 percent of the state’s existing bonds. State Treasurer John Schroder, a commission member, says they will not be targeting those existing bonds for further retaliation.

The DEA is reducing the number of opioids that pharmaceutical companies are allowed to make for the third year in a row as the addiction crisis continues to claim on average 115 American lives a day. Prescription opioids will see a ten percent reduction in production. Senator John Kennedy says he’s looking to implement changes that would shift production of the schedule II narcotic away from market demand, and based more on how much of the product front line doctors think is actually necessary. So far he has not introduced any bills that would accomplish that.

State Health officials report Fifty-three cases of West Nile Virus had been reported in Louisiana as of Aug. 11. That number quite a bit higher than last year. East Baton Rouge Parish had the most cases so far this year with 12, followed by Caddo and Ascension with 7, Ouachita and St. Tammany both had six reported cases. At this time last year, there were only 21 total cases reported.

College football season hasn’t even begun and there are legal problems in Tiger Land. LSU wide receiver Drake Davis was arrested on Friday on one count of second-degree battery. Davis is accused of punching his ex-girlfriend and breaking one of her ribs. The junior wide receiver was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a count of second-degree battery. Just a few weeks ago LSU suspended linebacker Tyler Taylor after learning he was arrested in May for reportedly serving as the getaway driver in the burglary of a Georgia pawn shop

Since taking office in January 2017, US Congressman Mike Johnson has held thirty-one town hall meetings in the state’s fourth district, adding three more this past week. Johnson says he views other elected officials choosing to not frequently participate in town hall meetings as a travesty, as he says it is vital for how the government is set up. He adds among the concerns of attendees is healthcare, immigration, and the farm bill.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocates have partnered up this month for a major drive to recruit foster parents and CASA volunteers across the state, which is in serious need of volunteers. 7,900 children are in foster care for abuse or neglect in the Bayou state and only 3,900 have access to a CASA volunteer. Judge Kathleen Stewart-Richie cites a national study that says those volunteers have a major impact on children in the system.

For more information about volunteering visit Louisianacasa.org

A group of at least three youths stole an East Baton Rouge school bus on Saturday afternoon and took it for a joy ride. A woman reported to police around 12:30 p.m. that she saw a group of kids driving the bus. Officers found the bus abandoned in a field a short time later, but the kids were gone. **